Rev. Ed Winkler will be retiring from pastoral ministry at the end of June. To honor Rev. Winkler and celebrate his contributions to Wesley Memorial and to the United Methodist Church, we are planning a potluck luncheon in Epworth Hall after the 11 AM worship service on June 14. We are collecting cards, letters, and notes, to be presented to Reverend Winkler. You can mail the letters to Wesley Memorial, 1901 Thomson Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903, or place them in a basket in the Aldersgate Room. If you would like to contribute to a retirement gift for Rev. Winkler, please place it in the offering plate ( mark it clearly for “Rev. Winkler Retirement”), or mail it to the church.
The Reverend Dr. Jan Rivero has been appointed as the next pastor of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, to begin July 1, 2015. Many will remember that she served as Director of the Wesley Foundation from 1993-1998 before being appointed as Director of the Wesley Foundation at UNC Chapel Hill, where she served for twelve years. After a five year stint as University Relations Director for Stop Hunger Now, in Raleigh, NC, Jan requested an appointment back in Virginia as pastor of a local congregation. Prior to coming to Wesley Foundation, Jan served three appointments as local pastor, in Northern Virginia and Williamsburg. While in Chapel Hill, Jan completed her Doctor of Ministry at Wesley Theological Seminary. Her dissertation, “To Serve the Present Age: Reconsidering the Mission of the Church on Campus for the 21st Century”, examines the relationship between church, campus and campus ministries and posits models for moving forward. In addition to her doctorate, Jan holds a Masters of Divinity from Wesley Seminary and a Bachelor of Science from The College of William and Mary. Jan is married to Dr. Jeffrey C. Pugh, Professor of Religious Studies at Elon University. Together they have four grown children and three grandchildren. Little known fact: they were married at Wesley Memorial in 1996.  Plans to welcome Rev. Dr. Rivero and family back to Wesley are underway.